Fastener



Feb. 23, 1932. J, GQERRANT 1,846,421

FASTENER Filed Sept. 30, .1950

Patented F eb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFICE,

.T01-IN L. GUERRANT, or LONG nEAoH, eAmFonNiafAssIeNonro ANNA s. GUEBBANT,

oF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA p l rAsTENnR,

Application mea september 30,;"1930,` seiarNoAsasa The present invention relates to a fastener which is particularl adapted to be used as a key fastener and which may be quickly and effectively applied to secure a key in a door lock so as to prevent any unauthorized person at the opposite side of the door dislodg ing the key from the key hole so as to permit opening of the door by means of a skeleton or pass key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener which may be adapted to link articles together or to suspend articles from supports adapted to be embraced by the fastener.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a door showing the application of the invention to a door knob spindle and a key which is retaining the latch bolt in locked position. F ig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the fastener showing the manner of applying it to a door knob spin elle. F ig. 3 shows the fastener in applied position for preventing unauthorized removal of the key from the opposite side of the L oor.

lhe fastener is composed of a single piece of resilient wire having the major portion thereof of substantially V-shaped form and bowed at one end in circular form with the ends of the wires terminating in a pair of lips which can be readily sprung apart to facilitate the entrance and exit of objects to which the fastener is adapted to be applied.

ln Fig. l the invention is shown in applied position to a door 1 having a mortise lock 2, knob 4; and spindle 3. The key 5 is shown disposed in the key hole l() to retain the bolt l5 in locking position.

The wire fastener is preferably formed to approximate the shape disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3, being bent in substantially V-shaped form for the greater portion of its length with the arms 13 and 14 merging into a curved portion 6 of relatively narrow width so that 'it can be readily inserted through the bow of a vcommon latchkey 5. The upper end of the arm 13 merges at the bendll with a relatively large curved bend or hook 7 which terminates in a reversely bent portion or lip 8, while the arm 14 merges with an outwardly deflectedeurved portion orlip 9 which terminates in an inwardly bent curved portion l0; The terminal portions of the wire forming the lips 8 and 9 present rounded bearing surfaces `whichfacilitate the entrance and exit of `objects over which the fastener is sprung.

The application of the fastener as a key guard is accomplished first by turning the key 5 in the key hole l() to throw the bolt to locking position and the bit and bow of the key crosswise of the key hole. With the key in this position the end 6 of the shank of the fastener is inserted through the bow of the key with the lips 8 and 9 against the door knob spindle 3, as shown in Fig. 2. A slight application of finger pressure on the bowed portion 7 will cause spreading apart of the lips and admission of the spindle within the bow 7 at the same time causing the shank of the fastener to pass further through the bow 5 of the key to the position shown in Fig. 3. To release the fastener from the key and the door knob spindle linger pressure may be applied at the end 6 of the shank of the fastener at an angle so as to snap thelips 8 and 9 over the spindle.

From the above description it will therefore be evident that I have provided a simple, effective and easily appliedkey fastener. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to be employed as a key fastener since it is evident that the invention may be employed in other relations as a general fastener for linking parts together or as a means for suspending articles from fixed supports.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is l l. As an article of manufacture, a key fastener comprising a single length of resilient wire, a substantially U-shaped bent portion formed at the lower end of the fastener, an inwardly directed hook shaped portion formed on one end of the wire and adjacent 2 i n' c Y' 1,846,421

the other end of the article, said hook shaped portion having reverse bends to form inner and outer convex guide lips,an outwardly formed loop on the other end of the wire normally in contact with the hook shaped portion, a partly circular portion :formed on the wire adjacent to the coiled portion `to form a loop at the end of the article opposite the U-shaped portion, and said lips being dis- Y 0 posed at an angle .with respect vto the center line of the article. Y

2. An article of manufacture of the class described7 comprising a single length ofresilient wire, a substantially U-shaped bent portion at one end of the article; a hook Shaped portion, formed 01,1 one end of the wire Aand adjacent the other end of the article, Said hook shaped portion having reverse bends t0 .form inner and Outer convex guide lips, an

20 outwardly `fornoed loop on the other end of the wire norrnally in contact with the hook shaped portion, and a partly circular portion formed on the. Wire adjacent to the coiled Portion to form a 1001 at the end of the article Opposite the .U-shaped portionE In testimony whereof l hereunto aiiix iny Signature JOHN Ii GUERRANT., 

